Locked out due to mobile authentication

[Waldo120]

Summary:
Hi, my 10 YO just paid for a game with his own money and I accidently locked him out of his steam account. Is there some way to log into an account with mobile authentication on without the mobile authenticator? Or to turn off mobile authentication? No I don't have the key from when it was setup. There is no phone number on it, but the e-mail works and I have access to it.

I've put in a ticket and it's been 4 days, but I've read it could be months before recovering an account.

Details:
I was trying to log onto my 10 YO's account on another computer, and it wouldn't let me without the mobile authenticator. My guess is that the phone that had it has since been wiped because none of his devices were setup for it, and when I tried to set them up I still needed the original mobile authenticator. I also needed the mobile authenticator to remove mobile authentication. It was an infinite loop. I saw a button that said "Deauthorize all devices". I thought "great, this will log him out of the phantom phone and it will no longer ask for mobile authentication". Instead it logged him out of his computer, and still asked for mobile authenticator when I tried to log back in! Now he's locked out of his own account on his own computer.

Rant:
This mobile authenticator was sold to me as an easier and faster way to log in, but it's been nothing but trouble. Why is a mobile device treated as though it's higher level security then a desktop? And why did logging out of all devices not ... log me out of all devices? When I change phones the last thing I'm going to be thinking about is "I better re-setup my game platform logon". Another example of a company thinking it's consumers lives revolve around them. And another example of a company selling something as something it's not. It's more secure, it's NOT easier.

[Callahan420]

If there isn't a phone number associated with the account it should send a code to the current email address tied to the account.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1126288560

[Satoru]

If you

1) lose the mobile authenticator
2) lose the associated phone number
3) did not write down the R-Code the authenticator screams at you to write down for 10 seconds

Then Steam isn't really at fault for you losing 3 totally different self-recovery methods

[Waldo120]

Originally posted by Callahan420:

If there isn't a phone number associated with the account it should send a code to the current email address tied to the account.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1126288560

Thanks, I haven't changed my password recently but I was able to find that same interface by going to the login screen and clicking "help, I can't login". When I get to where they want me to put in the password I get the error "This account recovery session is not valid anymore, please try again.".

I went through it relatively fast, tried different windows profiles, and browsers. I always get this error. And if I say I don't know my password either it goes back to the form to contact them. If I say I have my e-mail, it sends a link that asks for my recovery key.

[nullable]

Originally posted by Waldo120:

Rant:
This mobile authenticator was sold to me as an easier and faster way to log in, but it's been nothing but trouble. Why is a mobile device treated as though it's higher level security then a desktop? And why did logging out of all devices not ... log me out of all devices? When I change phones the last thing I'm going to be thinking about is "I better re-setup my game platform logon". Another example of a company thinking it's consumers lives revolve around them. And another example of a company selling something as something it's not. It's more secure, it's NOT easier.

Yikes, yeah man it sounds like none of this is very important to you and that's not Valve's fault. If you're not interested in using the authenticator correctly according to the processes Valve has set up, that's also not Valve's fault. Sounds like you should stick with email authentication if you can't be bothered to manage the software you elected to use correctly.

You should also make sure to keep track of the backup codes once you recover the account. There's lots of ways you could have saved yourself the hassle, maybe after this experience you'll be a little more keen on that.

I know none of this was intentional on your part and you're just frustrated about it and then every other little thing that happens. Maybe you should try to do the recovery process from the web browser on your phone if something is going on with your PC.

[Waldo120]

Originally posted by nullable:

Originally posted by Waldo120:

Rant:
This mobile authenticator was sold to me as an easier and faster way to log in, but it's been nothing but trouble. Why is a mobile device treated as though it's higher level security then a desktop? And why did logging out of all devices not ... log me out of all devices? When I change phones the last thing I'm going to be thinking about is "I better re-setup my game platform logon". Another example of a company thinking it's consumers lives revolve around them. And another example of a company selling something as something it's not. It's more secure, it's NOT easier.

Yikes, yeah man it sounds like none of this is very important to you and that's not Valve's fault. If you're not interested in using the authenticator correctly according to the processes Valve has set up, that's also not Valve's fault. Sounds like you should stick with email authentication if you can't be bothered to manage the software you elected to use correctly.

You should also make sure to keep track of the backup codes once you recover the account. There's lots of ways you could have saved yourself the hassle, maybe after this experience you'll be a little more keen on that.

I know none of this was intentional on your part and you're just frustrated about it and then every other little thing that happens. Maybe you should try to do the recovery process from the web browser on your phone if something is going on with your PC.

I just tire of companies selling you the good without being up front about the bad. In hindsight, now that I understand it, I would know and avoid it for my situation, but they sold it as "easier". I never thought they would consider it "easier" to only be able to access your account with your phone on your side, or heaven forbid you loose or wipe your phone, now you are locked out of adding any more devices?

Yes, I've already changed all 3 accounts I manage in my household (except this one, but I will), to e-mail only. When you do that, the icon is yellow, as if that isn't good enough. They are clearly pushing for you to use mobile authenticator by showing a caution color.

I don't understand what you mean by "Maybe you should try to do the recovery process from the web browser on your phone if something is going on with your PC." I have tried using the app and safari on a phone and a tablet, and a second desktop that is mine. They all have the same interface and don't let you turn off mobile authenticator without mobile authentication or contacting steam.

[no154370]

Originally posted by Waldo120:

Summary:
Hi, my 10 YO just paid for a game with his own money and I accidently locked him out of his steam account. Is there some way to log into an account with mobile authentication on without the mobile authenticator? Or to turn off mobile authentication? No I don't have the key from when it was setup. There is no phone number on it, but the e-mail works and I have access to it.

I've put in a ticket and it's been 4 days, but I've read it could be months before recovering an account.

Details:
I was trying to log onto my 10 YO's account on another computer, and it wouldn't let me without the mobile authenticator. My guess is that the phone that had it has since been wiped because none of his devices were setup for it, and when I tried to set them up I still needed the original mobile authenticator. I also needed the mobile authenticator to remove mobile authentication. It was an infinite loop. I saw a button that said "Deauthorize all devices". I thought "great, this will log him out of the phantom phone and it will no longer ask for mobile authentication". Instead it logged him out of his computer, and still asked for mobile authenticator when I tried to log back in! Now he's locked out of his own account on his own computer.

Rant:
This mobile authenticator was sold to me as an easier and faster way to log in, but it's been nothing but trouble. Why is a mobile device treated as though it's higher level security then a desktop? And why did logging out of all devices not ... log me out of all devices? When I change phones the last thing I'm going to be thinking about is "I better re-setup my game platform logon". Another example of a company thinking it's consumers lives revolve around them. And another example of a company selling something as something it's not. It's more secure, it's NOT easier.

here are some things i'm going to point out

1) do not ever delete the Mobile authenticator app at all on any of your handphones

2) since you mention that no handphone number is added to your "10 year old son Steam Account" then how could it need "mobile authenticator" to log in.

3) do you enable Family sharing and Family View??????

kindly take note that the minimum age for creating Steam Account is 13 years old, but due to "family sharing and family view".............

4) no one "sold" anything to you like what you state.

5) did you know that it is easy for "desktop" and "laptops" to be infected with malware and virus

how can a computer be more secure than Gaming Accounts, Email Accounts...........etc.

this shows that your knowledge on "cyber security" is not high enough.

anyone who claims that "computers" are more secure than Email Accounts and Gaming Accounts don't know anything about "cyber security" at all.

--------------------------------------------------------------

something tells me, the 10 year old son of yours, his Steam Account Mobile Authenticator phone number is tied to your Steam Account OP.

-------------------------------------------------------

also, Gaming Accounts are "Free", not "pay to create".

as a result, using the words" Sell", "sold", "buy" is the wrong thing to use.

[no154370]

also, you asks for help

people tries to help you.

yet instead, your replies to them shows that you are not even "listening" to them at all.

instead, you are criticizing those people who are trying to help you instead by playing the "blame game".

[Waldo120]

Originally posted by no154370:

also, you asks for help

people tries to help you.

yet instead, your replies to them shows that you are not even "listening" to them at all.

instead, you are criticizing those people who are trying to help you instead by playing the "blame game".

The first person posted a potential fix to my issue. I tried it. The rest of the replies has just been criticizing me for not understanding how it works right off the bat, telling me what I should've know in hindsight, or discussing the rant. None of which are helpful to fixing my issue.

I did listen, I just disagree. And I said such.

Also, I am not blaming the posters, I'm blaming Steam.

Also, people are replying to the rant more than the issue. Maybe I should re-post without the rant. It's attracting the wrong replies and proving to be a distraction.

[Waldo120]

Looks like Steam finally unlocked it. Thanks Callahan420 for trying.